It’s Friday night. You’re settled in to enjoy your favorite show or Oscar-winning flick. But first, you want to turn on the closed captions to get the most out of your programming. Thanks to decades of research, experimentation, and advocacy from groups and individuals, such as the National Captioning Institute and Marlee Matlin, subtitles are an easily accessible feature for millions of at-home viewers. Whether you have cable, satellite, or one of the many online streaming services, use this easy-to-follow guide to learn how to turn on closed captions on your TV.

Cable TVIf you have a receiver or DVR from Xfinity®, Charter Spectrum®, or Cox® Communications cable providers, use the following instructions to activate subtitles on your TV.

If you do not have a receiver or DVR from a cable or satellite provider, look to your TV settings for subtitles rather than the cable or satellite settings. Locate your TV user guide or contact customer support for help as every TV brand has different instructions for enabling closed captions. In some cases, it may be as easy as selecting the CC button on your television remote control.

Online Streaming ServicesIf you’re watching a program on your TV using Hulu™, Netflix®, or Amazon® Prime Instant Video apps, use the following instructions to turn on closed captioning. If you’re watching from a different device, like your computer, tablet, or mobile phone, check the service provider’s website for alternate instructions.

Amazon Prime Instant Video:The following instructions apply to movies and TV shows with a CC symbol in the video details. You can use the Search feature at the top of the main page to filter all video options available with subtitles.

Launch the Amazon Prime Instant Video app

Start playing a video

Select SUBTITLES or CC in your playback controls

When watching a DVD or Blu-ray, check the user guide or manufacturer’s website for instructions to enable closed captions.

Don’t see your system here? Search online for instructions.

Learning how to turn on closed captions on your TV can make a world of difference in the way you enjoy your binge-worthy shows. To find out how captions can also come in handy when using the phone, read about how CapTel captioned telephones work here.

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FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. IP Captioned Telephone Service may use a live operator. The operator generates captions of what the other party to the call says. These captions are then sent to your phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. No cost is passed on to the CapTel user for using the service. CapTel captioning service is intended exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. CapTel® is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. (v5.6 10-19)